"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess

The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre aims to present an accurate history as chroniclers of early Australian military developments from 1899 to 1920.

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Thomas Henry Walther was born in 1879 at Wellington, New Zealand. A stockman by trade, Walther enlisted in the NSW Citizens' Bushmen becoming and 485 Trooper Thomas Henry Walther and allotted to "C" Squadron. Walther is recorded in Murray, p. 82. At the end of the month, on 28 February 1900, the men of the contingent boarded the SS Atlantian from Cowper Wharf where they remained for the next 24 hours. The next day, following Admiralty rules, on 1 March 1900, the ship departed Sydney Heads for South Africa. Walther was invalded back to Australia on 3 November 1900. He remained on the NSW Government pension till 31 May 1908. He was also recorded in the New Zealand Defence Force, Personnel Archives for his service in South Africa (see Archway: WALTHER, T H - SA485 - Army).

James Daniel Duff was born in 1875 at Tingha, NSW. A lessee by trade, Duff enlisted in the NSW Citizens' Bushmen becoming and 34 Trooper James Daniel Duff and allotted to "A" Squadron. Duff is recorded in Murray, p. 76. At the end of the month, on 28 February 1900, the men of the contingent boarded the SS Atlantian from Cowper Wharf where they remained for the next 24 hours. The next day, following Admiralty rules, on 1 March 1900, the ship departed Sydney Heads for South Africa. Duff was killed in action by Boer Pom Poms at Elands River on 4 August 1900.

Initially Trooper James Daniel Duff was buried in a communal grave along with Staff Sergeant James Mitchell, Trooper John Waddell, and Trooper James Edward Walker. After 1966 Waddell was reburied in a single grave with his own metal head piece.

Final grave for 34 Trooper James Daniel Duff

[Photo by Mary James and extracted from The Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra Inc.]

Elands River

For more information about the battle at Elands River, the War Diary of the NSW Imperial Bushmen details this action. A report on the action was filed by Major Tunbridge on 18 August 1900.

John Waddell was born in 1872 at Shoalhaven, NSW. A horsebreaker by trade, Waddell enlisted in the NSW Citizens' Bushmen becoming and 327 Trooper John Waddell and allotted to "C" Squadron. Waddell is recorded in Murray, p. 82.

At the end of the month, on 28 February 1900, the men of the contingent boarded the SS Atlantian from Cowper Wharf where they remained for the next 24 hours. The next day, following Admiralty rules, on 1 March 1900, the ship departed Sydney Heads for South Africa. Waddell was killed in action by Boer Pom Poms at Elands River on 4 August 1900. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 17 June 1902.

For more information about the battle at Elands River, the War Diary of the NSW Imperial Bushmen details this action. A report on the action was filed by Major Tunbridge on 18 August 1900. This can be found at:

On Monday, 29 January 1900, Philip Dickinson turned up with his saddle to Randwick Race Track in Sydney and enrolled with the NSW Citizens' Bushmen. After a couple days rigorous testing which involved a medical, a shooting test and a riding test.

Philip Dickinson after attestation and allotment to "A" Squadron

At the end of the month, on 28 February 1900, the men of the contingent boarded the SS Atlantian from Cowper Wharf where they remained for the next 24 hours. The next day, following Admiralty rules, on 1 March 1900, the ship departed Sydney Heads for South Africa.

45 Trooper Philip Dickinson

Philip Dickinson was born in 1874 at Leeds, England. A labourer by trade, Dickinson enlisted in the NSW Citizens' Bushmen becoming 45 Trooper Philip Dickinson and allotted to "A" Squadron. Dickinson is recorded in Murray, p. 76. Dickinson also appears to have seen service with the Bushveldt Carbineers. Dickinson was awarded the Queen's South African Medal with the 1901 bar.

On Monday, 29 January 1900, Ernest G Foster turned up with his saddle to Randwick Race Track in Sydney and enrolled with the New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen. After a couple days rigorous testing which involved a medical, a shooting test and a riding test.

At the end of the month, on 28 February 1900, the men of the contingent boarded the SS Atlantian from Cowper Wharf where they remained for the next 24 hours. The next day, following Admiralty rules, on 1 March 1900, the ship departed Sydney Heads for South Africa.

148 Sergeant Ernest G Foster

[From: Sydney Mail, 3 March 1900, p. 506.]

Ernest G Foster was born in 1873 at Avoca, Tasmania. A station hand by trade, Foster enlisted in the New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen becoming 148 Sergeant Ernest G Foster and allotted to "B" Squadron. While in South Africa, he was promoted to Squadron Sergeant Major on 19 October 1900.

When the tour of duty for the New South Wales Citizen's Bushmen's Contingent Foster remained in South Africa and traveled down to Cape Town where he was placed on the strength of 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles as a supernumerary. Soldiers staying in Africa when their regiments returned were given a step up in rank, he was a Squadron Sergeant Major with the NSW Citizen's Bushmen's Contingent and so was commissioned as a Lieutenant to the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

After the return of the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles to Australia, Foster stayed in Africaand would have been promoted to Captain in the next contingent but the war finished, so he was obliged to leave the Army. He remained in Africa as a settler under the Milner Scheme and did not return to Australia till 1926.

For his services in South Africa, Foster was awarded the Kings South African Medal.

Acknowledgement: Many thanks to Bob Pankhurst for providing the information in this item about the service of Ernest G Foster with the 3rd NSWMR.

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